South Africa U19 Women’s Team Gears Up for T20 Series Against Namibia and Eastern Storm

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has officially announced the upcoming South Africa under-19 Women’s T20 series against Namibia and the Eastern Storm, as the team prepares for the second edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup set to take place in Malaysia and Thailand in early 2025. The matches will be held at Willowmoore Park in Benoni from July 1st to July 6th.

The SA U19 Women’s team, coming off their successful hosting of the inaugural T20 World Cup in January 2023, will face off against the Namibian national team and their provincial counterparts in a series of 10 T20 matches. The squad, featuring promising talents such as Nthabiseng Nini, Seshnie Naidu, Kayla Reyneke, Simone Lourens, and Jemma Botha, will convene in Johannesburg on June 28th.

The selection of the 18-player squad followed extensive regional camps across the country and evaluations during the 2023/24 CSA National Weeks. The young talents also participated in two U19 Women’s Camps in collaboration with SA20 in November 2023 and April 2024, further refining their skills and teamwork.

Head coach of the SA U19 Women, Dinesha Devnarain, highlighted the importance of the upcoming tour, emphasizing the need for the team to focus on their brand of cricket. Devnarain expressed excitement at the opportunity for the young players to showcase their aggressive style of play and execute their game plan against challenging opposition.

Grant van Velden, CSA Head of High Performance, expressed enthusiasm for the fixtures arranged for the SA U19 Women, underscoring the value of these matches in enhancing the team’s skills and readiness for the upcoming ICC U19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup. He extended gratitude to Namibia for agreeing to tour South Africa, fostering a competitive spirit and international relations.

The South Africa under-19 Women Squad participating in the T20 series includes players from various regions, such as Central Gauteng Lions, Western Province, Northerns, Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastal, Limpopo, North West, and Easterns, reflecting the diverse talent pool within the country. The fixtures for the series are set to provide an exciting platform for the young cricketers to hone their skills and gain valuable experience.